Guided walking in Cape Verde
The hikes in Cape Verde are spectacularly beautiful and very few know about them, so you often get the trails all to yourself. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the islands too, because you observe the daily buzz of island life, such as fishermen pulling in their catch, locals walking between villages with huge tuna slung over their backs, grogue distilleries making sugar-cane spirit, and children playing with toys made from repurposed every day items.
Though Cape Verde gets very little rain and it’s gloriously sunny year-round, there are still some lush green valleys, thanks to moisture rolling in from the ocean. The most well-known walking areas in Cape Verde are the Serra Malagueta on Santiago, the Paul Valley on Santo Antao, and the volcanic formations and trails surrounding Fogo Volcano, on Fogo island.
Our English-speaking Cape Verdean walking guides
You often require a guide when walking in Cape Verde because the majority of the paths aren’t waymarked or well mapped, following small tracks between mountain villages. We have guides on each of the islands, who are familiar with every winding track and can tell you all about the local flora and fauna along the way.
Being accompanied by a guide is like walking with a celebrity. They know most of the people they encounter and always stop to chat with the locals. You’ll follow trails that cut through the interior of the islands, crossing through villages and agricultural land. To give you a flavour of what to expect, we’ve highlighted some of the most iconic walking routes and areas in Cape Verde:
1. Fogo – Guided ascent of Fogo Volcano
The hike to the top of Fogo Volcano is physically challenging but incredibly rewarding. Your day starts at around 06:30am, following a trail that crosses the blackened floor of Chã das Caldeiras before ascending the flanks of the mountain. The trail gets increasingly steep the higher up you go, until you end up on the ridge of the crater. This will take around 2/3hrs, with plenty of stops (a little shorter on the way down). Once at the upper crater, you follow it along a little way before descending down a long scree-slope which is great fun and can be done at a run.
The landscape surrounding Fogo Volcano is a remarkably untouched reminder of how landscapes are affected and formed during eruptions. Though Fogo Volcano was formed tens of thousands of years ago, a huge landslide and collapse of the main peak formed the spectacular Caldeiras and surrounding Bordeira walls that you can see today. And the most recent eruption in 2014 further resulted in a huge lava flow that enveloped two villages within the caldeira, all of which can be seen clearly from the summit.
2. Fogo – The Pe de Bordeira Walk
The Bordeira is an impressive wall of rock that surrounds part of the central cone of Fogo Volcano, and it’s as prominent as the peak itself. These impressive rock walls have taken on a half-moon and you can walk a section of this wall, at the eastern end. Your hike starts with flat walk along the volcanic floor of Chã das Caldeiras before following a steep trail that leads to the top of the wall. You’ll walk along the walls rock formations, eventually returning via the same route. It’s slightly easier than hiking to the summit of Fogo but is every bit as dramatic, with fantastic views of Pico do Fogo and the small cones left from previous eruptions.
3. Santo Antão – The iconic Paul Valley walk
The walk into the Paul Valley is perhaps the most iconic of Cape Verde’s trails, and is certainly one of the most picturesque. Your guide will meet you at the ferry at Porto Novo, then its a bumpy but fun jeep ride up the cobbled road to the crater of Cova do Paul. This is where you start your walk, dropping into the crater and walking around the edge of the crater floor before ascending the crater slopes at the other side. From this lofty height, you walk down a cobbled path that zigs zags down into the fertile Paul Valley. You’ll see towering cliffs, sugar cane, papaya, and mango and dragon fruit trees. Though you can do this walk self guided, we recommend going with a guide if you want to spend a few days exploring the excellent high mountain paths in the surrounding valleys.
4. Santo Antão – From Agua das Caldeiras to Xoxo
The Xoxo Valley (pronounced Shu Shoo) is incredibly pretty, and particularly iconic because of a sharp rock needle that is silhouetted against the skyline. There is a mountain trail that leads to this valley from the high plateau of Agua das Caldeiras, near the famous volcanic crater called Cova do Paul. Aside from an initial ascent, through pine forest, of about 200ft, the walk is largely downhill, so you need to have good knees. Its an incredibly beautiful walk along a dirt and stone paved path but there are some exposed sections high up, so you need to be confident in the mountains. You descend for about 1200m and the walk takes about 4 to 5 hours, with spectacular valley views throughout. At the lower elevations, you’ll walk through terraced slopes of tropical fruit and sugar cane.
5. Santiago – A valley walk to Cidade Velha
This walk starts above the Salineiro valley or from the village of Calabaceira. For the most part, it’s an easy valley walk but there is an initial 40 minute descent down a rocky sandstone path to get to the valley floor. Once in the valley, you follow your path beside the river bed, passing small villages and fertile terraces. You’ll see lots of tropical fruits growing along the trail, such as papaya and sugar-cane. The walk ends in Cidade Velha, the oldest settlement in Cape Verde and former capital. There are several cafes where you can enjoy a well-earned refreshment, and you can walk through the cobbled streets of Rua Banana, visit the pillory, and visit the old fortress.
6. Santiago – Hike to the summit of Pico de Antónia
Pico de Antónia is part of a central mountain range near Rui Vaz and Assomada. A very early morning drive takes you to the start of your walk to climb to the summit which, at 1392m, is the highest peak on Santiago (higher than Ben Nevis in Scotland!). There are several ways to reach the top and you need to be sure-footed on loose rock. Your guide will discuss all of the options with you so you can opt for the most suitable route. It is also possible to skirt around Pico d’ Antonia to Quinta da Montanha, if you would rather not do the summit.
7. Santiago – Walking in the Sierra Malagueta
There are a variety of trails in the Sierra Malagueta natural park, from short strolls to full-day challenging mountain walks. You’ll pass villages, tropical fruit orchards and the odd ‘grogue’ distillery. We often see kingfishers on this walk, so keep an eye on the trees! Its a spectacularly beautiful mountain range and is close to Tarrafal, which has the nicest beach on Santiago and is a great spot for some swimming and snorkelling. If you base yourself in Tarrafal, you can enjoy multiple walks in the Sierra Malagueta.
8. Sao Nicolau – Walk in the Monte Gordo Natural Park
Monte Gordo is a natural park surrounding the now extinct volcano in the centre of the island. Cloud often shrouds the high peaks and high points of the island and moisture is drawn onto the plants and rocks, where it eventually soaks into the ground. So, it can be surprisingly green. There are several trails in the park and your guide will offer suggestions depending on your ability and preferences. You can also walk to the summit of Monte Gordo Volcano, following a direct path from the information centre to the 1312m summit. This takes around 2 – 3 hours. If your would prefer a longer route to the summit, taking in more of the lovely scenery, you can circumnavigate the mountain first before hiking to the top (this generally takes up to 6 hours).
How can I book a guided walk in Cape Verde?
We’ve been arranging fully flexible holidays to Cape Verde for over twenty years and we’re always happy to talk to you about guided walking options. If you are booking your holiday with us we can arrange walks on all of the islands that you visit, and we can offer first-hand advice on which will be the most suitable for you, from guided to self-guided walks.
Have a chat with Max or Jake, on: team@archipelagochoice.com.
